Today’s post is special, it’s written by a dear friend of mine, Asmahan Mashrah. She is a teacher in Michigan and passionate about all of our students feeling supported, loved, and appreciated for their full identities. Asmahan is sharing the most important part of her life with us – her faith. Supporting Muslim students during Ramadan is essential for ALL students to feel rooted, understood, and cared for at school for all that they are.
Understanding Ramadan
Before we get started on supporting our kids, let’s first explore what Ramadan is. Ramadan is the Islamic Holy Month. Muslims use the lunar calendar which follows the cycle of the moon. Ramadan usually lasts 29-30 days and includes fasting. During Ramadan there are a few Islamic requirements that must be completed. One of them is Fasting. Fasting is actually one of the 5 pillars of Islam, meaning the foundations of Islamic practice. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from Sunrise to Sunset. That can mean long hours for Muslims around the world, some will see 14-16 hours of fast depending on their location.
Reasons for Fasting
Muslims fast for spiritual, physical and mental reasons. Spiritually, it is an obligation of the faith and needs to be completed. It’s also important to know that some people don’t fast due to health and physical restrictions. It allows the creation to get closer to the creator. During Ramadan, Muslims are in a state of spiritual discipline. Not only are they fasting from food and drink, but they are fasting from worldly temptation and are in a constant state of reflection on their relationship with their Maker. It is a form of physical and spiritual training. Abstaining from food and drink requires dependance on the maker for substance, to also feel compassion and empathy to those less fortunate, to engage in dialogue with Allah through various acts of worship, prayer, charity, supplication etc. Not only is fasting beneficial to your mental and spiritual state, but it is beneficial to your body. Intermittent fasting can bring down cholesterol, help manage type 2 diabetes, and help clear toxins from your system.
Here are some resources you can share with students about Ramadan. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ramadan-3816055
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ramadan-Journal-for-Kids-4560504
You can also check out my blog on how my family gets ready for Ramadan here.
Supporting Students During Ramadan
If you are back in the physical school building, assigning students less work or offering an extension to complete assignments can be extremely supportive. Taking more quiet breaks that allow kids to rest their brain can help the mental exhaustion which can happen quickly when fasting.
Reading and displaying picture books about Ramadan for all students to explore will also allow them to feel represented and loved in their classroom during this time.
If you are in school and have lunch time, provide a safe space for students to go to rest. Allowing kids to put their heads down so they are not around people eating or drinking can make a big difference. Adults tend to have more discipline than students! Seeing people eating or drinking can be really hard for kids while fasting.
If you are virtual learning, allow more frequent breaks from the screen.
Allow students to complete their asynchronous work at later hours during the day. This can provide them the opportunity to sleep in and rest their body, but then complete their work later.
Supporting Colleagues During Ramadan
What about Muslim colleagues?
Making copies for them, taking their students to lunch or specials so they can have an extended break, switch off planning weeks to give them a break from the mental load. Ramadan is a special time, but it is exhausting!
Holding staff or PLC meetings later in the day, if possible, can give teachers time to rest their brain.
Offering gift cards to restaurants or cooking a meal for them can be so welcome. Cooking after a whole day of fasting can be hard, and that support is so kind.
Ramadan is a celebration of faith and family. Supporting Muslim students during Ramadan is how we can begin to make school a community care experience.
For more information, you can find me on instagram @asmahanmashrah, or drop me an email at asmahanmashrah85@gmail.com.
Additionally, please follow us at the Muslim Educators Collective on instagram to keep learning!
In partnership,
Asmahan
